J Day 2026: May 2nd CHCH, Dec 5th AKLD
Posted inAbout NORML Campaign Events

J Day 2026: May 2nd CHCH, Dec 5th AKLD

NORML New Zealand Inc and friends present the 34th Annual Protest Against Prohibition and Celebration of Kiwi Cannabis Culture - J DAY! Christchurch J Day remains the FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY while Auckland J Day, for the last few years, is held on the FIRST SATURDAY IN DECEMBER.
Crappy Birthday, MoDA! 50 years of misuse of drugs laws
Posted inLaw Reform Press releases

Crappy Birthday, MoDA! 50 years of misuse of drugs laws

Do you know the racist origins of New Zealand's drug laws? The 1901 Opium Prohibition Act, banned use only by Chinese people, and Aotearoa’s first alcohol law banned use only by Maori. Such misuse of drugs laws continues to this day, with the law applied unfairly, unevenly, and with no regard to actually helping those the law claims to protect. The 1972-3 Blake Palmer Committee which reviewed the previous…
NORML’s <strong>Submission on the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill 2024</strong>
Posted inCampaign Drug Testing Law Reform

NORML’s Submission on the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill 2024

NORML's submission on the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill 2024 focusses on how this Bill and the drug driving testing regime relates to cannabis and the one-in-ten adults in New Zealand who are regular consumers, as well as the large majority of adults who have tried it on occasion; the vast majority of whom are responsible, otherwise law-abiding citizens who may be entrapped by poorly targeted roadside checkpoints intended to detect recent use rather than impairment.
Predictions for 2024
Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform

Predictions for 2024

On 95bFM's weekly Marijuana Media show, NORML's Chris Fowlie made a few predictions for 2024. Check the pot-cast for more! The current settings won’t change. See: Luxon (above), election campaign, coalition agreements, 100 day plan. This is good news! The Medical Cannabis Scheme will remain, with access to flower; police discretion will stay in place; substance checking is safe. Labour also won’t do anything this year, but expect some testing…
Pardon Kiwi cannabis convicts? Yes, we can.
Posted inChris Fowlie's Blog Law Reform Referendum

Pardon Kiwi cannabis convicts? Yes, we can.

While Americans convicted for possessing pot will soon be pardoned, some local politicians have already stubbed out the roach here, citing the 2020 cannabis referendum result. Yet there remains a need to pardon Kiwis for something most of us no longer believe should be a crime, and there are several ways we could do it, writes CHRIS FOWLIE,